loving art, science and creative kids
6/27/2025 10:55:33 PM
Spinning in All Directions—And Loving It
Years ago, I bought a painting for my office wall that captured my life perfectly: a woman pulled in all directions, spinning in circles. It made me laugh because it was true. I was launching a new business while driving children to countless events, shopping, cooking, doing laundry, cleaning the house, and trying to look at least somewhat presentable for my husband. It wasn’t easy—at times it felt nearly impossible—but I rarely complained. I found the whirlwind exciting.
Working mothers don’t have it easy. According to CBS, the job requirements include:
- Must be able to work 135+ hours a week
- Ability to work overnight, depending on needs
- Willingness to forgo any breaks
- Work mostly standing up and/or bending down
- Must be able to lift up to 75 lbs. regularly
- Ph.D. in psychology—or real-life equivalent
- Unlimited patience
- Understanding of finance and medicine
- Selflessly driven
- Valid driver’s license, CPR certification, and Red Cross membership
Does that sound familiar to you?
Now, with children and grandchildren grown and scattered across the West Coast, and with my business sold, I assumed life would slow down. I thought I’d finally have time to relax, reflect, and focus. But that’s not so.
Apparently, I’m hardwired to keep that wheel spinning. I now travel further to visit family. My time is filled with painting, writing, volunteer work, political activism, and caring for two local grandkids. The laundry, housework, exercise routines, and daily check-ins with my husband still remain, as they always did.
So, what does it all add up to? I don’t have time to be bored or to obsess over things beyond my control. My life remains full. Even in my later years, I still feel that I have something meaningful to contribute. I’ve learned to communicate across generations, share history and stories as an elder, and hold onto a strong sense of purpose.
In my counseling work, I often meet younger people who struggle with that very thing: purpose. Many feel unmoored, unsure of their direction in life. But purpose isn’t something handed to you. It’s something you build, bit by bit, through action, reflection, and connection.
And it’s never too late to find it.
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Painting is not For Sale. I like it too much.
Please comment below and let me know what type of whirlwind of a life you lead.
Building and managing a museum was particularly exciting. Science museum directors do much more than put on exhibits. They run gift stores, planetariums, large format theaters, education programs both in and outside of the building. They offer camping experiences, manage restaurants, tour exhibits internationally, and organize fundraising events. Managing such a diverse and varied program might drive some people crazy, while for others it is what life is about. Enjoy a fun packed read that takes you behind the scenes of science and art centers. Available in e-book and paperback at Powells Books, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
6/20/2025 8:29:32 PM
View from a Bridge
I can only guess at the secretrs hidden behind the doors.
Private Worlds, Shared Worries
When the weather is good, I take long walks through my neighborhood, passing door after door, each one different. I often wonder what life is like behind them. What are the people inside thinking? How are they coping in a country fractured by discord? These musings bring to mind Anatole France's words: "Even a little dog is the center of his own universe." Each person in each house lives in a private world of their own making. Lately, I've grown curious about how my neighbors are feeling since the pandemic subsided.
One afternoon, I knocked on the door of an elderly neighbor. She told me she struggled to stay balanced on the emotional seesaw created by the daily news. She missed seeing her family and scolded herself for once believing the world was on a path toward peace. "I really thought the United Nations would help solve global problems through dialogue instead of war," she said, her voice breaking with grief. I felt her pain as she choked back a cry.
A few houses down, I passed a mother of young children leaning against her doorjamb. During the pandemic, she had grown used to working from home. Now, back in the office, she struggles to juggle childcare, doctor visits, soccer games, and gymnastics. It's remarkable she manages to keep her job while raising a family. Evenings bring more stress; housework and dinner leave her drained. She confessed that she wishes for a hybrid work arrangement that would let her work from home a few days a week. She gave me a sheepish look as she admitted, "I hate myself for letting the kids spend so much time on their phones, but it's the only way I can get a break and make dinner in peace."
Behind another door lives a furloughed father who lost his job with NOAA during Musk's downsizing efforts. Oregon's four National Weather Service offices saw staff cuts of 25% to 60%, affecting meteorologists, hydrologists, and technicians. This man not only fears for his own future, wondering if he'll ever find another job as a meteorologist. He also expressed concern for the integrity of climate reporting, with global warming seemingly struck from the weather forecast vocabulary. He spends his days watching endless newscasts and sleeping twelve hours a day. His depression is severe. Though he jogs daily, he avoids his friends and won't consider reaching out for professional
A few blocks away, I passed the home of a couple who married just before the last election. They've postponed having children, unwilling to bring a baby into such uncertain times. The husband, a doctor in the Oregon National Guard, fears he might be deployed if conflict arises. He dreads the thought of harming innocent people or witnessing their suffering. Their long-anticipated trip to Arches National Park is also in doubt due to budget cuts to the country's Monuments and Parks and fears of overcrowding. For now, the future, including whether to have children, remains unspoken.
Then there's the family that calls me "Grandma." I've known them for seven years-an African- American couple with two children, ages ten and fourteen. I helped the father earn his commercial driver's license, enabling him to become a truck driver and support his family. They immigrated to escape violence, became citizens, and have a deep love for this country. But today's headlines unsettle them, reminding them of the instability they left behind.
Just down the street from my home is a door I pass often. It opens to the home of a doctor whose hours have i increased due to ongoing budget cuts.Oregon's public health system is overwhelmed, understaffed, and struggling with burnout and a lack of resources. The result? Longer wait times and reduced access to care. He worries now not just for his patients, but for his own mental and physical health. His latest fear, though, is changes to Medicaid. That may have an opposite effect, causing him to lose his job due to patients losing their insurance. He finds it difficult to plan for the future.
My own door opens to a universe that, in many ways, remains unchanged from before the pandemic and the shift in administration. I still exercise daily, write, read, paint, and serve as a lay minister with the Unitarian Church. Ray and I continue to talk, argue, make up, and, above all, remain grateful for each other.
These days, I'm more mindful, more deliberate in how I drive and how I interact with people on the street. I'm encouraged by the peaceful protests and inspired by young people who are stepping up to demand change in a country that too often burdens the poor. In this charged and energized atmosphere, I feel a deep sense of hope. Our youth, with their fresh eyes and open hearts, are embracing diversity and envisioning new possibilities. Through their determination, I believe the world truly can be transformed for the better.
Welcome Home
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I look forward to your comments. Do your neighbors share their concerns? Comment on my blog site.
Art is always for sale. View from the Bridge is a 32" by 22" multimedia 3D sculpted painting available for sale on my website for $795, which includes shipping. Questions? Contact me at M[email protected]. To purchase online, go to https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/1534176/view-from-a-bridge#/
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According to the UN, water is at the center of the climate crisis. THE WATER FACTOR, A RIGHTFULLY MINE NOVEL, is your chance to peer into the near future to a time of water scarcity controlled by corporate criminals. Why do some people step up to the challenge while others don’t? The story is a gripping tale of water scarcity and corporate wrongdoing, and the people who fight for their rights. The Water Factor is a Firebird International Award winner for best dystopian novel and a Literary Titan recipient for best thriller.
It can be purchased on AMAZON, Barnes & Noble, Powell's Books, Annie Bloom's Books, and as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.
6/13/2025 8:30:35 PM
EMERGING SUNLIGHT
Get rid of the fear, the chaos, and let the sun shine through.
Afraid, Frozen, Yet Still Moving Forward
Years ago, a student came into my college counseling office, pale and shaking. Paralyzed by overwhelming fear, he couldn’t get out of his car to cross the street and enter a building. His phobia was interfering with his life.
A phobia is an irrational, persistent fear of an object, situation, or activity, so powerful it can trigger a full-blown panic attack. Physical and emotional symptoms surface even in the absence of real danger. According to Johns Hopkins Medical Center, phobias often begin between the ages of 15 and 20. While both men and women experience them, men are more likely to seek treatment. The root causes remain unclear but are thought to involve a mix of genetic and environmental factors. Fortunately, phobias can be treated.
I don’t know what triggered that young man’s fear, but I do know what sparked one of my own. After a childhood accident on a roller coaster, I avoided them for decades. Then, in my seventies, I found myself at a Universal theme park, watching my granddaughter ride them with ease. When I saw young children laughing as they exited, something shifted in me. Bored of watching from the sidelines, I gave it another try—and discovered the rides weren’t so terrifying after all (though I still avoid the ones with loops!).
My grandson also chose to face his fear. After falling from a horse several times, he was understandably wary. But years later, he joined me on a trail ride, jaw clenched, eyes wide with apprehension. With a gentle guide and some encouragement, he ended the day confidently trotting on his own. I admired his bravery.
The student I worked with eventually found relief through cognitive-behavioral therapy. During our sessions, I’d turn off the lights and guide him through a visualization exercise, asking him to picture each step of the feared activity. Over time, the anxiety loosened its grip. Overcoming irrational fear takes real courage. When phobias interfere with daily life, therapy—especially gradual exposure techniques—can be highly effective.
Breathing and relaxation exercises can also help reduce the body’s physical response to stress.
I bring this up now because I see a different kind of fear spreading: social and political anxiety. It's more than the fear of public speaking or social awkwardness. It's a deep, persistent dread, fueled by media and political rhetoric, that causes people to withdraw from conversation, stop watching the news, and avoid friends and family with differing views. But avoidance doesn't ease the fear; it often amplifies it.
One woman told me she bursts into tears when she reads about people starving in Gaza or being taken from their homes by masked ICE agents. She imagines herself in their place and becomes so overwhelmed that she can’t leave her own home. Unchecked, this kind of fear, like any phobia, can interfere with work, relationships, and even sleep. It can leave people frozen, unable to act, think clearly, or take meaningful steps toward relief. Some turn to substance abuse to self-medicate; others lash out in anger or direct their fear toward imagined enemies.
Avoidance doesn’t solve fear. Facing it calmly and gradually can. Fear and hope are powerful, opposing forces. Fear can ignite wars, silence dissent, and erode human rights. But while fear may be paralyzing, it isn’t permanent. Just as my student learned, overcoming fear requires effort and courage, but the reward is the freedom that comes with it.
We may not be able to change the world overnight, but we can change how we respond to it. That means staying informed without getting overwhelmed, setting boundaries with media consumption, and engaging in conversations, especially hard ones, with compassion and curiosity. Whether it’s roller coasters, horses, or challenging conversations, facing fear step by step helps us grow. We don’t have to let politicians or media sensationalism dictate how we live. With courage and by supporting each other, we can reclaim our voice, our peace, and our place in the world.
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I look forward to your comments below.
Art is always for sale. Emerging Sunlight is a 16" by 20 " acrylic painting on canvas. It can be purchased for $295 through my website at https://www.eichingerfineart.com/workszoom/6123537/emerging-sunlight#/ For additional questions, contact me at [email protected]
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References:
Website (2025) Phobias. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24757-phobias Podcast.
Ramadan H. Shants, J. (2016).Manufacturing Phobias: The Political Production of Fear in Theory and Practice. University of Toronto Press. ISBN978-1-4426-25884-7
Understanding and overcoming phobias: Martin Antony, PhD. American Psychological Association. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/podcasts/speaking-of-psychology/overcoming-phobias
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Why would a playboy twenty-year-old become a social activist, willing to put his life on the line to reclaim his tribe’s right to water? The Water Factor presents a powerful example of what can occur when people become so disenchanted with corporate greed that they overcome their fears and take action. The book is a Firebird International Award winner for Best Dystopian Novel and a Literary Titan recipient for Best Thriller. It is available in ebook, paperback, and audio formats.
It can be purchased on AMAZON, Barnes and Noble, and as an audiobook on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes.
